Arcana.fm
@arcanadotfm.bsky.social
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I've used my Arcana site to put together a tribute to Matthias Siefert, who we were very sad to lose in January.
With enormous gratitude to a great 'freund' - professionally, personally and musically:
arcana.fm/2026/02/01/m...
With enormous gratitude to a great 'freund' - professionally, personally and musically:
arcana.fm/2026/02/01/m...
In appreciation – Matthias Siefert
Today I want to use Arcana to pay tribute to a great friend, who very sadly passed away last recently at the age of 63. I first met Matthias Siefert in the year 2000. We were working at an Internet…
arcana.fm
February 1, 2026 at 11:00 AM
I've used my Arcana site to put together a tribute to Matthias Siefert, who we were very sad to lose in January.
With enormous gratitude to a great 'freund' - professionally, personally and musically:
arcana.fm/2026/02/01/m...
With enormous gratitude to a great 'freund' - professionally, personally and musically:
arcana.fm/2026/02/01/m...
Introducing Arcana's new electronic music project. Join me for Our Friends Electric! arcana.fm/2026/01/19/o...
Introducing…Our Friends Electric!
Today is known as Blue Monday, the day where New Year’s resolutions have traditionally worn off…and people have had enough of January. It happens also to be the name of one of the best electronic m…
arcana.fm
January 19, 2026 at 11:12 AM
Introducing Arcana's new electronic music project. Join me for Our Friends Electric! arcana.fm/2026/01/19/o...
Happy New Year! We're up and running with a review of new music from Nathan Fake: arcana.fm/2026/01/06/n...
Switched On – Nathan Fake: Slow Yamaha (InFiné)
by Ben Hogwood What’s the story? This is the second single from Nathan Fake’s forthcoming album Evaporator, due for release on 20 February on InFiné. Although called Slow Yamaha, it fea…
arcana.fm
January 6, 2026 at 12:28 PM
Happy New Year! We're up and running with a review of new music from Nathan Fake: arcana.fm/2026/01/06/n...
Reposted by Arcana.fm
I've picked a dozen albums of the year from this year's @arcanadotfm.bsky.social reviews - the only such list featuring Bloch and Andy Bell! arcana.fm/2025/12/20/a...
2025 in music – Arcana’s 12 albums of Christmas!
by Ben Hogwood In my humble opinion, 2025 has been a brilliant year for new music. Over the course of the year I have listened to more than a hundred new albums and have been fortunate enough to re…
arcana.fm
December 20, 2025 at 12:21 PM
I've picked a dozen albums of the year from this year's @arcanadotfm.bsky.social reviews - the only such list featuring Bloch and Andy Bell! arcana.fm/2025/12/20/a...
New post - a revealing interview with conductor Francesco Cilluffo about the little-known Delius work The Magic Fountain, which he will oversee at Wexford Festival Opera later this month: arcana.fm/2025/10/11/f...
Talking Heads: Francesco Cilluffo
by Ben Hogwood pictures (c) Ribaltaluce Studio (Francesco Cilluffo); Pádraig Grant (rehearsals) Arcana has the pleasure of an audience with conductor Francesco Cilluffo, in his third year as Princi…
arcana.fm
October 11, 2025 at 2:05 PM
New post - a revealing interview with conductor Francesco Cilluffo about the little-known Delius work The Magic Fountain, which he will oversee at Wexford Festival Opera later this month: arcana.fm/2025/10/11/f...
A playlist to mark Arvo Pärt's 90th birthday: arcana.fm/2025/09/11/a...
In Appreciation – Arvo Pärt at 90
by Ben Hogwood Picture by Kauppo Kikkas, used from the ECM Records website Today marks the birthday of one of our most important and best-loved composers, the Estonian Arvo Pärt. Pärt is best known…
arcana.fm
September 11, 2025 at 9:16 AM
A playlist to mark Arvo Pärt's 90th birthday: arcana.fm/2025/09/11/a...
A review of last night's BBC Proms concert: Boulez & Mahler from the BBC Symphony Chorus and Orchestra under Hannu Lintu: arcana.fm/2025/08/05/p...
In concert – Soloists, BBC Symphony Chorus & Orchestra / Hannu Lintu @ BBC Proms: Mahler Das klagende Lied & Boulez Rituel in memoriam Bruno Maderna
Natalya Romaniw (soprano), Jennifer Johnston (mezzo-soprano), Russell Thomas (tenor), James Newby (baritone) Carlos González Nápoles (treble), Malakai Bayoh (alto), Constanza Chorus, BBC Symphony C…
arcana.fm
August 5, 2025 at 2:37 PM
A review of last night's BBC Proms concert: Boulez & Mahler from the BBC Symphony Chorus and Orchestra under Hannu Lintu: arcana.fm/2025/08/05/p...
A review from the Three Choirs Festival - Richard Whitehouse on Howells and Bliss: arcana.fm/2025/08/03/t...
In concert – Three Choirs Festival: Three Choirs Festival Chorus, Philharmonia Orchestra / Adrian Partington – Howells Hymnus Paradisi & Bliss Mary of Magdla
Rebecca Hardwick (soprano), Dame Sarah Connolly (mezzo-soprano), Michael Bell (tenor), Malachy Frame (baritone), Three Choirs Festival Chorus, Philharmonia Orchestra / Adrian Partington Howells Par…
arcana.fm
August 3, 2025 at 10:17 AM
A review from the Three Choirs Festival - Richard Whitehouse on Howells and Bliss: arcana.fm/2025/08/03/t...
Finally, Richard Whitehouse appraising the BBC Symphony Orchestra under Sakari Oramo - with Augustin Hadelich the soloist in Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto: arcana.fm/2025/07/28/p...
In concert – Augustin Hadelich, BBC SO / Sakari Oramo @ BBC Proms: Stravinsky, Mendelssohn, Anthony Davis & Richard Strauss
Augustin Hadelich (violin), BBC Symphony Orchestra / Sakari Oramo Stravinsky Le chant du rossignol (1914/17)Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64 (1838-44)Anthony Davis Tales (Tails) of th…
arcana.fm
July 28, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Finally, Richard Whitehouse appraising the BBC Symphony Orchestra under Sakari Oramo - with Augustin Hadelich the soloist in Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto: arcana.fm/2025/07/28/p...
A memorable Friday night Prom from Alexandre Kantorow and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, with Maxim Emelyanychev conducting Beethoven 5: arcana.fm/2025/07/27/p...
In concert – Alexandre Kantorow (piano), Scottish Chamber Orchestra / Maxim Emelyanychev @ BBC Proms: Rameau, Saint-Saëns, Capperauld & Beethoven
Alexandre Kantorow (piano), Scottish Chamber Orchestra / Maxim Emelyanychev Rameau Les Indes galantes – suite (1735)Saint-Saëns Piano Concerto no.5 in F major Op.103 ‘Egyptian’ (1896)Capperauld Bru…
arcana.fm
July 28, 2025 at 5:13 PM
A memorable Friday night Prom from Alexandre Kantorow and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, with Maxim Emelyanychev conducting Beethoven 5: arcana.fm/2025/07/27/p...
Next up, Richard Whitehouse reviews the Ensemble Intercontemporain in Boulez and Berio in last Wednesday's Prom: arcana.fm/2025/07/26/p...
In concert – Sarah Aristidou, Ensemble Intercontemporain / Pierre Bleuse @ BBC Proms: Boulez & Berio: 20th-Century Giants
Sarah Aristidou (soprano), Jérôme Comte (clarinet), Lucas Ounissi (trombone), Yann Brécy (IRCAM electronics), Sylvain Cadars (IRCAM sound diffusion), Ensemble Intercontemporain / Pierre Bleuse Beri…
arcana.fm
July 28, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Next up, Richard Whitehouse reviews the Ensemble Intercontemporain in Boulez and Berio in last Wednesday's Prom: arcana.fm/2025/07/26/p...
Posting some reviews from the first week of the BBC Proms, beginning with Sean Shibe & the BBC Philharmonic under Anja Bihlmaier: arcana.fm/2025/07/24/p...
In concert – Sean Shibe, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra / Anja Bihlmaier @ BBC Proms: Richard Strauss, Mark Simpson ‘ZEBRA’ & Berlioz
Sean Shibe (guitar), BBC Philharmonic Orchestra / Anja Bihlmaier Richard Strauss Tod und Verklärung Op.24 (1888-89)Simpson ZEBRA (or, 2-3-74: The Divine Invasion of Philip K. Dick) (2025) [BBC comm…
arcana.fm
July 28, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Posting some reviews from the first week of the BBC Proms, beginning with Sean Shibe & the BBC Philharmonic under Anja Bihlmaier: arcana.fm/2025/07/24/p...
Richard Whitehouse reviews the first performance of Bliss's Viola Concerto from the Ryedale Festival - Timothy Ridout performing an orchestration by Philip Wilby with the Orchestra of @operanorth.co.uk: arcana.fm/2025/07/21/r...
In concert – Ryedale Festival: Timothy Ridout, Orchestra of Opera North / Tom Fetherstonhaugh – Bliss: Viola Concerto first performance; Vaughan Williams, Coleridge-Taylor & Elgar
Timothy Ridout (viola), Orchestra of Opera North / Tom Fetherstonhaugh Vaughan Williams The Wasps – Overture (1909)Bliss (orch. Wilby) Viola Concerto, B68a (1933, orch. 2023)Coleridge-Taylor Solemn…
arcana.fm
July 21, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Richard Whitehouse reviews the first performance of Bliss's Viola Concerto from the Ryedale Festival - Timothy Ridout performing an orchestration by Philip Wilby with the Orchestra of @operanorth.co.uk: arcana.fm/2025/07/21/r...
Reviewed: Christian Ihle Hadland, Johan Dalene & Andreas Brantelid at @wigmore-hall.org.uk yesterday, playing Korngold and Ravel trios: arcana.fm/2025/07/08/d...
In concert – Johan Dalene, Andreas Brantelid & Christian Ihle Hadland @ Wigmore Hall: Korngold & Ravel
Johan Dalene (violin, above), Andreas Brantelid (cello, bottom), Christian Ihle Hadland (piano, middle) Korngold Piano Trio in D major Op.1 (1909-10)Ravel Piano Trio in A minor (1914) Wigmore Hall,…
arcana.fm
July 8, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Reviewed: Christian Ihle Hadland, Johan Dalene & Andreas Brantelid at @wigmore-hall.org.uk yesterday, playing Korngold and Ravel trios: arcana.fm/2025/07/08/d...
Richard Whitehouse reviews Fidelio @garsingtonopera.bsky.social: arcana.fm/2025/06/30/f...
Arcana at the opera: Fidelio @ Garsington Opera
Beethoven’s Fidelio, Garsington Opera at Wormsley, Stokenchurch, UK | Pictured: Robert Murray (Florestan); Sally Matthews (Leonore) | Image © Julian Guidera 2025 Fidelio (1804-5, rev. 1814) M…
arcana.fm
June 30, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Richard Whitehouse reviews Fidelio @garsingtonopera.bsky.social: arcana.fm/2025/06/30/f...
On this day, 100 years ago - the world premiere of Prokofiev's Second Symphony. Buckle up! arcana.fm/2025/06/06/p...
On this day – the world premiere of Prokofiev’s Second Symphony in 1925
by Ben Hogwood Picture from the Bain Collection, Library of Congress This day marks the centenary of the premiere of one of Prokofiev’s most remarkable works, the Second Symphony. It was firs…
arcana.fm
June 6, 2025 at 9:29 AM
On this day, 100 years ago - the world premiere of Prokofiev's Second Symphony. Buckle up! arcana.fm/2025/06/06/p...
Reposted by Arcana.fm
On the 55th anniversary of the release of The Beatles’ ‘Let It Be’ album here’s my recent short piece for arcana on @ianleslie.bsky.social’s excellent book ‘John & Paul: A Love Story in Songs:
@punkandnewwave.bsky.social
arcana.fm/2025/05/05/j...
@punkandnewwave.bsky.social
arcana.fm/2025/05/05/j...
On paper – John and Paul: A Love Story in Songs by Ian Leslie
John and Paul: A Love Story in Songsby Ian LeslieFaber & Faber 2025 (hardback 432 pages, ISBN: 978-0571376117) Reviewed by John Earls To write a book about The Beatles these days must be someth…
arcana.fm
May 8, 2025 at 7:24 AM
On the 55th anniversary of the release of The Beatles’ ‘Let It Be’ album here’s my recent short piece for arcana on @ianleslie.bsky.social’s excellent book ‘John & Paul: A Love Story in Songs:
@punkandnewwave.bsky.social
arcana.fm/2025/05/05/j...
@punkandnewwave.bsky.social
arcana.fm/2025/05/05/j...
Reposted by Arcana.fm
Here’s my short piece for @arcanadotfm.bsky.social on @ianleslie.bsky.social’s excellent Beatles book ‘John & Paul: A Love Story in Songs’: arcana.fm/2025/05/05/j...
On paper – John and Paul: A Love Story in Songs by Ian Leslie
John and Paul: A Love Story in Songsby Ian LeslieFaber & Faber 2025 (hardback 432 pages, ISBN: 978-0571376117) Reviewed by John Earls To write a book about The Beatles these days must be someth…
arcana.fm
May 5, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Here’s my short piece for @arcanadotfm.bsky.social on @ianleslie.bsky.social’s excellent Beatles book ‘John & Paul: A Love Story in Songs’: arcana.fm/2025/05/05/j...
Memorable Beethoven and Schubert from Viktoria Mullova and Alasdair Beatson @wigmore-hall.org.uk: arcana.fm/2025/04/09/m...
In concert – Viktoria Mullova & Alasdair Beatson @ Wigmore Hall: Beethoven & Schubert
Viktoria Mullova (violin), Alasdair Beatson (fortepiano) Beethoven Sonata for piano and violin no.6 in A major Op.30/1 (1802)Beethoven Sonata for piano and violin no.8 in G major Op.30/3 (1802)Schu…
arcana.fm
April 9, 2025 at 6:54 AM
Memorable Beethoven and Schubert from Viktoria Mullova and Alasdair Beatson @wigmore-hall.org.uk: arcana.fm/2025/04/09/m...
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Memorable Mozart, Mendelssohn & Mazzoli...all about the Ms from @philharmonialondon.bsky.social on Thursday: arcana.fm/2025/03/22/f...
In concert – Mao Fujita, Philharmonia Orchestra / Osmo Vänskä: Missy Mazoli, Mozart & Mendelssohn
Mao Fujita (piano), Philharmonia Orchestra / Osmo Vänskä Missy Mazzoli These Worlds In Us (2006)Mozart Piano Concerto no.25 in C major K503 (1786)Mendelssohn Symphony no.5 in D minor Op.107, ‘…
arcana.fm
March 22, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Memorable Mozart, Mendelssohn & Mazzoli...all about the Ms from @philharmonialondon.bsky.social on Thursday: arcana.fm/2025/03/22/f...
By a very happy coincidence, here's a review of the new album from #RPSAwards winner, soprano Claire Booth: arcana.fm/2025/03/07/c...
On Record – Claire Booth & Andrew Matthews-Owen: Paris 1913: L’offrande lyrique (Nimbus)
Caplet En regardant ces belles fleursMilhaud L’innocence Op. 10/3Hahn À ChlorisRavel arr. Stravinsky Trois poèmes de Stéphane Mallarmé M64Auric Trois Interludes: Le pouf.Ropartz La RouteDurey L’Off…
arcana.fm
March 7, 2025 at 9:15 AM
By a very happy coincidence, here's a review of the new album from #RPSAwards winner, soprano Claire Booth: arcana.fm/2025/03/07/c...
Great to have a first performance of Bliss's Metamorphic Variations in an age - and confirmation of a recording, too! arcana.fm/2025/03/04/b...
In concert – BBC Philharmonic Orchestra / Michael Seal: Discovering Bliss
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra / Michael Seal (above) Sir Arthur BlissMiracle in the Gorbals (1944) – OvertureThings to Come (1934) – MarchMetamorphic Variations (1972) Royal Concert Hall, NottinghamWe…
arcana.fm
March 4, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Great to have a first performance of Bliss's Metamorphic Variations in an age - and confirmation of a recording, too! arcana.fm/2025/03/04/b...
Reposted by Arcana.fm
Here’s my review for @arcanadotfm.bsky.social of last night’s superb concert by Maria Schneider & Oslo Jazz Ensemble at @barbican.bsky.social performing pieces from her remarkable ‘Data Lords’ album considering digital and natural worlds. arcana.fm/2025/03/03/m...
In concert – Maria Schneider and Oslo Jazz Ensemble present ‘Data Lords’ @ The Barbican
Maria Schneider and Oslo Jazz Ensemble Barbican Hall, London, 2 March 2025 by John Earls. Photo credits (c) John Earls Maria Schneider is a distinct force. A passionate advocate of musicians’ owner…
arcana.fm
March 3, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Here’s my review for @arcanadotfm.bsky.social of last night’s superb concert by Maria Schneider & Oslo Jazz Ensemble at @barbican.bsky.social performing pieces from her remarkable ‘Data Lords’ album considering digital and natural worlds. arcana.fm/2025/03/03/m...
Reposted by Arcana.fm
Here’s my review for @arcanadotfm.bsky.social of Susan Bullock and Richard Sisson’s superb concert at Bechstein Hall last Friday celebrating the Great American Songbook. arcana.fm/2025/02/23/b...
In concert – Susan Bullock & Richard Sisson @ Bechstein Hall, London
Susan Bullock (soprano), Richard Sisson (piano) Bechstein Hall, London, 21 February 2025 by John Earls. Photo credit (c) John Earls There can’t be that many connections between Richard Wagner and t…
arcana.fm
February 23, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Here’s my review for @arcanadotfm.bsky.social of Susan Bullock and Richard Sisson’s superb concert at Bechstein Hall last Friday celebrating the Great American Songbook. arcana.fm/2025/02/23/b...